A/N: It took a while, but guess what: I'm back and frankly, I missed reading and writing fan fiction a lot. Couldn't be helped though. This two-shot is basically to get the creative juices flowing again. As always, all standard disclaimers apply and any mistakes you find are mine and mine only – you are always welcome to point out any I missed for immediate correction. Without further ado...
Chuck vs the Con
Chuck walked into the house to find his beloved – and heavily pregnant – wife vegging on the couch, an empty carton of Rocky Road on the coffee table between a pregnancy book and a legal pad with her notes. She was being very diligent in learning everything she could about being pregnant.
"Hello ladies," he said cheerfully. Sarah gave him the stink eye. Yes she'd grown big, but she still counted as one woman, in her opinion. "And little gentleman," he added, kneeling on the carpet by her abdomen and addressing his unborn son.
It caused Sarah to smile widely, now completely understanding what he meant. "Welcome home, Chuck. How was work?"
He shrugged. "We're doing OK. Hiring Alex was probably one of your best ideas."
"Then she's doing well."
"Let's just say that she's more than capable."
"Good, but I feel so useless staying in the house all day."
"Sarah, do we have to go over all this again? You know what the doctor said."
"I guess I shouldn't be complaining. It is good to have those two growing so big." She ran a hand over her belly and giggled when one of them kicked.
"Yes, the whole rest thing was more to ease the strain on your back than anything else." He picked up the pregnancy book. "What were you reading this time?"
"I was trying to decide on how I want to give birth," Sarah replied and offered him her notes to read.
"Wow, you've done your homework. There are so many options to choose from."
"I just had an idea. I'll cross out all the options not available at Westside Medical. The hospital was good enough for Ellie, so it should do for us, too."
Chuck inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He'd always wanted Sarah to give birth to the twins in the safe and controlled environment of a hospital delivery room. "I agree," he said simply.
"Good. Now, help me up. One of those two is using my bladder as a trampoline." She held out her hands for him to pull her upright.
He gladly obliged her. "Holler if you need anything."
"I need food, mister," she shot back before closing the bathroom door.
Chuck leaned against the wall outside the bathroom. "Who's ordering? You, he or she?"
"We kind of agreed on Mexican," Sarah replied without missing a beat. "We could go for a burrito… or five."
"I'll call the Desperado, as usual," he said, referring to their favorite Tex-Mex restaurant.
"We would also like potato chips drowned in nacho cheese to go with our burritos, please. I have several kinds of cheddar cheese dip and everything else you'll need in the kitchen."
"You went grocery shopping?"
She got out of the bathroom and smiled. "I was craving pickles and peanut butter. But I did buy several other things as well."
"I'll make you a virgin margarita as well."
"Excellent. Now off to the kitchen, you," she commanded imperiously. "If want a snack, there's still a peanut butter, pickle and cream cheese sandwich in the fridge... I think."
Chuck grinned. Throughout the pregnancy, Sarah's food cravings were kind of gourmet – he'd never seen her ask for any mismatched food combinations.
They were snuggled together on the couch, waiting for their Mexican to be delivered. As usual, Chuck was fascinated by the constant movement of his children inside Sarah's womb, much to her amusement. As for Sarah, she was wondering if she should pop the surprise before or after dinner. For the moment, she was content to sip her margarita and wait until the burritos she was craving arrived. And then there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Chuck said, somewhat redundantly and jumped up to go open the door. Only, instead of the delivery guy, there were three other people outside.
"Hi Chuck," they all said in unison.
"Mom? Emma? Molly?" He stood aside to let them in.
"We ran into the delivery guy, so we picked up your order. It smells good, by the way. What is it?" Mary asked.
"The burritos are for Sarah and the kids. The tacos are for me."
"We brought ice cream!" Molly chirped. Chuck picked her up and carried her to her big sister.
"Look who's here!"
"Hey short round," Sarah smiled as Chuck deposited the little girl on the couch.
"I've told you not to call me that," Molly pouted, but still hugged Sarah.
"Mom, Mary, what brings you here?"
"We haven't seen you for a few days and we figured you and Chuck might need some company and a hand with the housework."
"Much appreciated, thanks," Chuck said.
"Go on, feed your wife and kids," Emma urged him. Soon, he had a tray ready with Sarah's burritos, chips drowned in nacho cheese and one more virgin margarita.
"Should you be eating so much spicy food, Sarah?" Mary asked, seeing her daughter-in-law wolfing down the burritos one after the other.
"It's not like I'm going to pop those two as soon as I'm through with dinner," Sarah smiled. "Besides, they like it."
"I hope you all have room for dessert, Sarah," Molly said, helping herself to a potato chip covered in cheese dip. "We brought Rocky Road."
"I love you guys," Sarah gushed.
Later, Mary and Emma got busy with certain housekeeping tasks, while Chuck was detailed to entertain Molly under the watchful eye of Sarah. She took another sip of her decaf and smiled as Molly succeeded in doing the card trick Chuck had been teaching her. Just then, the two older women rejoined them in the living room after helping themselves to some coffee.
"Chuck, I have something to tell you," Sarah said when her little sister snuggled up against her and their mom on the couch.
"I'm listening."
"Um, I think you'd better sit down."
He sat down on the recliner. "I'm seated."
"I bought tickets to the Comic-Con," she announced. "And I also made reservations in a hotel."
"You what?" To say that everyone was surprised would be a classic understatement.
"We always wanted to go, didn't we? I figured this year would be as good a time as any."
"Um..."
"Think about it, Chuck. It's a great opportunity, considering we won't be able to go once we're busy with the kids."
Her mom tut-tutted. "Sweetheart, you'll have lots and lots of people willing to take care of them for a few days. I'm sure Mary will jump at the chance and so will your Dad, Carina, Molly and I."
"Well, it's too late now, Mom. I got the tickets and we are going." She didn't mention anything about having her own reasons to go to this year's Comic-Con.
"Better not antagonize her, Chuck," Emma said. "She's stubborn as a mule."
"Tell me about it," he chuckled.
Sarah threw a cushion and stuck her tongue out at him when he attempted to protest. Next to her, Molly giggled.
Mary, Emma and Molly stayed with them for a few more hours, leaving when Sarah became drowsy. Chuck took her to their room, helped her change into a comfortable nightgown and guided her to lay on her pregnancy pillow.
"I love you Chuck," she mumbled just before going out like a light. He just stood there, a smile forming on his face when she began to snore lightly. Then he changed into his own pajamas and went to bed.
-o-
Devon had once said that Ellie was a bloodhound when it came to diamonds. Chuck could say the same about Sarah, only her specialty in her current condition was ferreting out food. The smell of something delicious reached her nostrils even before she was fully awake. Licking her lips, she got up with surprising agility for her bulk and waddled to the kitchen. Chuck heard her approaching and gave her a quick kiss before serving her a generous helping.
"By the way, I'm most definitely not putting on my Princess Leia costume," Sarah said suddenly, taking a sip of her chocolate milk. "I look more like a bloated beached whale right now, and it's going to get worse."
"Well, if we want to keep to the Star Wars theme, I can go as Anakin Skywalker and you as Padme… In fact we could…"
"No," Sarah cut him off. "We are most definitely not naming our kids Luke and Leia."
"I am the one with the Intersect and even that cannot give me mind reading powers. How did you know what I was going to say?"
Sarah laughed. "I know you, Chuck. You are the most adorable, incorrigible Nerd ever. I've had plenty of time to learn how your mind works, too."
"Can't we at least put these names on the list of names under serious consideration?"
"Again, no. Do you know how bad they, and especially our little girl, may be razzed in the future if they are stuck with these names?"
"Fine. But we'll dress them up as Luke and Leia for Halloween."
"Only if you agree to take them treat-or-tricking as Darth Vader," she retorted.
"I can do that." He placed a loving kiss on his wife's lips. And then it came to him. "Sarah, are you sure that you can go to the Con in your… condition?"
"Chuck, I'm pregnant, not disabled."
"But…"
"But nothing," she said firmly. "If it makes you feel any better, we can ask my doctor today after the ultrasound."
"Promise me you'll follow her advice."
"You know I'll do everything she says, dummy."
He smiled, relieved to hear that.
"By the way, tell Morgan and Alex that I got tickets and booked a room for them, too."
"You did?"
"It was the least I could do for them, especially considering how much they have been helping us lately both at work and here."
As if on cue, Morgan knocked and when Chuck opened the door he entered with Alex in tow. "Good morning guys," he said cheerfully and turned to Chuck. "Are you ready for work, Boss?"
"Yeah, but first, Sarah here wants to share something with you two."
"We're listening," Alex said.
"Chuck and I are going to Comic-Con in a few days... with you."
"With us?" Morgan echoed.
"You heard me. In fact, everything has been arranged. Tickets, accommodation, the works."
Only Sarah's bulging belly prevented Morgan from jumping on her to give her his koala bear hug, like he had done so many times with his best friend. Instead, he and Alex thanked her effusively, to the point of making her blush.
"Morgan, one more thing," Chuck said. "I'm going to be late for work today."
"Doctor's appointment?" Alex guessed.
"Yes, we have another ultrasound scheduled."
"Then why don't you take the whole day off? Alex and I are more than capable of taking up the slack. Besides, we don't have anything pressing at the office."
"OK, but call me if anything comes up."
"Will do, buddy."
"So," Chuck said once the others left. "How on earth did you get your hands on those tickets? I'm sure the prices on the black market are astronomically high."
"Who said I got them on the black market? I reserved them the day they became available."
"You planned all this in advance?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded smugly. "Was it a nice surprise?"
"Hell yes it was!"
-o-
Sarah's doctor was very satisfied with the progress of the pregnancy so far. Both babies were healthy and developing normally, plus there were no potential red flags. And then came the question from Chuck regarding the trip to San Diego.
"I see no problem with it," the doctor replied. "So far she doesn't appear to be in risk of delivering your kids prematurely, but you know she will tire easily."
Sarah butted in on the conversation. "I've adjusted my plans accordingly and in advance," she assured her doctor.
"Okay then, I believe we have covered everything. Here's your DVD of the sonogram, as usual, Mr. Bartowski."
"Thank you doctor."
"You know, I never understood why you have to have every sonogram on DVD," Sarah said while they were going to get the car.
"I'm a sucker for such mementos. Plus, I have an entire collection of pictures and videos of you to go with them."
"You're such a romantic… Hold on a sec! What do you mean pictures and videos to go with them? You've been taking pictures of your wife looking like a water buffalo?"
"No. I've been taking pictures of my lovely wife who just happens to have two little Bartowski buns in the oven."
Sarah harrumphed. "Delete them."
"The hormones are talking now, honey. Besides, I'm planning on adding to the collection once we're in San Diego."
"The additions will be of me looking like your average pregnant Plain Jane, because I'm not dressing up for the Con. My motto this year is Comfort First."
"You are not a Plain Jane, Sarah... You never were and you never will be. You are the extraordinary Sarah Lisa Walker-Bartowski." He wagged his eyebrows at her and held the door of the car open. She maneuvered herself inside and buckled up.
-o-
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Ellie yelled at her sister-in-law before turning, seething, to her little brother. "And you, Chuck, you should have tried to talk her out of this madness!"
"He tried and failed," Sarah said flippantly, not in the least fazed by Ellie's outburst.
"He should have tried a lot harder," Ellie continued.
"Ellie, I'll be fine. We'll all be fine," Sarah insisted. "Yes, it will be crowded, but I'll have Chuck, Morgan and Alex with me."
Just then, Devon walked in with Clara in his arms. "El, babe, can you please turn down the volume a little? You woke Clara up from her nap."
"Sorry Devon," Ellie said, suitably contrite. "But Sarah here bought tickets to Comic-Con International and she wants to go with Chuck, Morgan and Alex."
"I don't see a problem with that, babe."
"A woman in her condition wanting to go to some place crowded and stifling and you see no problem with it?"
"Sis, stop being such a worrywart," Chuck said. "We'll all be looking out for Sarah."
Ellie turned to rip him a new one, but she saw Sarah give her the sad eyes. Predictably, she caved. "Come here, Sarah," she said and enveloped her in a hug. "I don't want to upset you, but I wanted you to be aware of the risks."
"There are no risks," Sarah said firmly. "I talked to my doctor about it earlier today and she had no objections to me going, provided I don't exhaust myself, which I won't."
"Fine, but promise you'll call us every day."
"I promise. And, Ellie?"
"Yes?"
"We missed you, too."
"From now on you'll be back to seeing me every day. The project we went to Chicago for will be continued here."
"I thought you were back for the summer," Chuck said, somewhat dumbly.
"No, we're back for good."
"Indeed," Devon confirmed. "Which brings us to the reason why Ellie came to see you in the first place: we are inviting you to a small dinner party in our place tonight."
"We'll be there," Sarah assured him.
"Good, because I already invited your parents and sisters as well," Ellie deadpanned.
"All of them?" Sarah's hormones took over and she crushed Ellie in a bear hug. It'd been a couple of weeks since she'd last seen her Dad and she knew Emma was missing him just as much.
-o-
The extent of Jack's reaction to the news about the Con was limited to a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile. He knew that his son-in-law would take good care of his baby girl. Therefore, he was content to read Molly a story after dinner, while Carina, Sarah and Ellie were talking girl stuff and Mary was looking at picture albums with Emma, leaving Chuck and Devon to their own devices. After learning that Sarah was pregnant, he'd come back and was formally introduced to little Molly. He'd known about her for a few years, since he kept tabs on the love of his life and their daughters and now they were getting back to being a family. Molly and the as yet unborn grandkids had been the catalyst.
"Daddy?" Molly said, looking up at him.
"Yes, munchkin?"
"I would like to go to Comic-Con some day. It sounds like fun."
"When you are a little older, we'll talk to your Mom about it, OK?"
"OK," the girl nodded vigorously.
"What nefarious schemes are you two hatching?" Sarah asked, maneuvering herself down on the couch with a glass of juice in hand.
"I was telling Daddy about going to Comic-Con," her sister replied.
"I believe we can put that on the to-do list," Sarah said seriously. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Morgan and Alex returning from an evening out. "Morgan's back. Why don't you ask Mom to let you play video games with him?"
"Sure!" Molly chirped and ran to Emma. A mere minute later, Chuck was taking her to Morgan's.
-o-
Sarah had planned it so that they would go to San Diego a full day before the Con started. She already had a travel bag packed, so she spent the morning making Chuck cook her a generous breakfast and then she supervised him as he packed for the trip before directing him to check the car and load their luggage in it. And then the drive to San Diego began.
"Stephen Jackson Bartowski," Sarah said suddenly, about half an hour into the trip.
"Come again?"
"Stephen Jackson Bartowski," she repeated. "I want to name our son after his grandfathers."
"I like it."
"Of course you do," she said smugly.
He drove in silence for a few minutes. "I think I found a name for our baby girl."
"I'm listening."
"Yvonne Elizabeth Bartowski... or Elizabeth Yvonne Bartowski. You choose, but be informed that I'm partial to the former."
"Yvonne Elizabeth Bartowski it is," Sarah agreed. "Our mothers' middle names... they are going to love it."
"Well, they are better than many of the names we suggested at various times, including Nicole and Jameson, Kathy and Andy, Luke and Leia..."
"Good, the matter is settled. And now, can you pull over at the next rest stop? I hafta go... again."
He glanced at the GPS display. "There is one coming up in a couple of miles."
"Goody."
"Still, I'm kind of surprised at how easily we agreed on the kids' names."
"Sometimes, all it takes is a break in the routine, a change of scenery, or something like that for a solution to appear."
"Uh-huh." He then pressed a button, activating a peer-to-peer network with Morgan's car. "Buddy, we're stopping for a bathroom break."
"Again?"
"What do you mean by again, Morgan?" Sarah said testily. "This is the first stop."
"That may be, but we were late leaving because someone wanted to go to the bathroom and then she wanted to go get..."
"Some day, Alex is going to be carrying your baby and she'll make you go through it all with her – if Casey doesn't kill you first for knocking up his little girl," Sarah interrupted him.
"Well said, Sarah," Alex laughed. "Besides, we need to stop for gas."
"Huh?" Morgan asked.
"You forgot to fill up the car," she pointed out. Through the speaker they could hear Chuck and Sarah laughing.
When they left the rest stop, Morgan's car had a tank full of gas and Sarah was contentedly going through a bag of gummy worms. Fortunately, the rest of the road trip turned out to be completely uneventful and soon they were parking the cars in the hotel's parking lot.
"Chuck, help me out, please," Sarah said.
"Sure thing, honey," Chuck replied, carefully helping her exit the car.
"I think someone should invent a portable collapsible jib or something to help pregnant women in and out of cars, don't you think, Chuck?"
"I think I can manage on my own. Even pregnant on two kids, you are not that heavy."
She smiled, appreciating the answer and then led the way to the hotel's front desk. "Hi," she told the receptionist. "My name is Sarah Bartowski and I have a reservation for two rooms under Bartowski and Grimes."
"Yes, Mrs. Bartowski, your rooms are ready. Please sign here."
"Yes, thank you. Morgan, come sign for your room."
"Coming!"
Upstairs, Chuck tipped the bellhop who had carried their luggage for them and paused to survey the spacious room. There was even a pregnancy pillow on the bed. "Nice hotel," he commented.
Sarah also looked very pleased with herself. "I did some digging around the web to find it, even browsed pregnancy related online forums. The place comes highly recommended."
"Would you like to rest, or do you want to do something else? We haven't been here since your high school reunion."
"Let me see... The Con begins tomorrow, so we can do pretty much anything we want today... It's still early, so I could take you around town or something."
"Sure, I'd love to."
"I'll let Morgan know," she said smiling.
Naturally, Morgan and Alex decided to join them on their sightseeing tour. Chuck was driving, while Sarah was giving him directions from the passenger seat. They passed James Buchanan High and Sarah regaled them with stories of the operation undertaken during her reunion. Chuck gleefully added that Sarah had been crowned reunion queen and that he still had her crown. "When the time comes, I'm sure Yvonne will be both prom and reunion queen," he added.
"Who's Yvonne?" Alex asked.
"Our little girl," Chuck replied proudly.
"Ah, so you finally agreed on a name?" Morgan said.
"Actually, we agreed on names for both."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks!" Chuck and Sarah chorused.
Among the places they saw in San Diego was Sarah's old neighborhood, as well as the Convention Center, where the Con was to take place. It was mid afternoon when they finally returned to the hotel for Sarah to take a nap, as she was a little tired, especially since the kids had kept her up for a good part of the previous night. Chuck called Ellie and told her about their first day in San Diego. The rest of the day passed normally, but Chuck could sense that Sarah was privately excited about something. In all probability, it had something to do with Comic-Con beginning the following day. He was going to find out soon enough, so for the moment he was content to cuddle with his wife on the comfortable couch of their hotel room and watch a comedy on TV before heading out for dinner.
Having lived in the city, Sarah could have taken them to a very nice restaurant, yet she chose… "A Wienerlicious?" Chuck gasped.
"I have a sudden craving for hot dogs," Sarah said innocently. In fact, she relished the prospect of visiting a Wienerlicious as a customer and not an employee.
"Next thing we know, she'll be wanting frozen yogurt from a Double O," Morgan joked.
Sarah looked up sharply, as the statement struck a chord. "Is there an Orange Orange around here?"
"Don't ask me," Chuck shrugged.
"The fro-yo chain started after I left the city, so I suggest you look it up on your smart phone or car computer, Chuck." It was not a suggestion, as it seemed, but an order. He smiled and nodded before holding the door of the hot dog parlor open for her and their friends.
The evening out ended early, as the four retired to Morgan and Alex's room for a movie and small talk before finally calling it a night. In their room, Chuck prepared a nice relaxing bath for Sarah. She insisted on him joining her in the tub, wanting a nice relaxing foot massage. And then it was bedtime.
Sarah had proven many times over that she wasn't a morning person. But now, she woke up early, excited at what the day was going to bring. Apparently, the twins were just as excited, as a bout of what she was fond of referring to as breakdancing occurred inside her. She smiled and kicked her husband awake. "Chuck, wake up," she said cheerfully.
"Nuh-uh," he mumbled.
"Chuck, get up! We gotta get ready for the Con."
"What's gotten into you, Sarah? You seem really eager to go."
"I am," she deadpanned. "Help me get up, please." After a quick (by pregnant woman standards) trip to the bathroom, she picked out a navy blue maternity halter dress, put it on and sat at the dresser to do her hair.
"You look lovely," Chuck said, giving her a kiss on the cheek after putting on a t-shirt and jeans. Pregnant or not, Sarah was a veritable fashion Ninja.
"Thanks." She looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Do you think my new jeans would look better on me?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? You look great in anything."
"Not helping," she said in a singsong voice.
"Wear the jeans when we go for dinner tonight."
"Huh. Works for me." She pushed herself up after putting on her sandals. "Where is my bag?"
"This one?" Chuck asked, holding up her messenger bag. It was heavier than usual, but he knew better than to ask what was inside.
"Yup. Now, let's go get Morgan and Alex. The Con awaits!" She was so giddy, she was practically vibrating with excitement. He shook his head and went next door to tell their friends that they were ready to go.